'Understanding Humanity with Isaiah Berlin' (CUP, 2026) Edited by Johnny Lyons
A new work on the thought of Isaiah Berlin, published by CUP, examines a selection of fifteen of Berlin's most important essays, each seen through the lens of a distinguished commentator in the field: 'The result highlights the main concerns of Berlin's thought, such as value pluralism, liberty and nationalism, alongside the contrast between the sciences and the humanities, and more' (Avishai Margalit).
The overarching theme of this newly-commissioned edition of essays, collected and presented by the Berlin scholar Johnny Lyons, is the enduring relevance of Berlin's profound understanding of humanity, which runs like a leitmotiv through all of his works. Lyons' edition includes a short introduction to Berlin's life and works, and is 'an invaluable resource for students and scholars alike' (Steven B. Smith).
Johnny Lyons is an independent scholar, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and the University of Cambridge. He is the author of two monographs on Berlin, The Philosophy of Isaiah Berlin (Bloomsbury, 2020) and Isaiah Berlin and his Philosophical Contemporaries (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021). He is also the creator of the innovative 'Talking to Thinkers' series, and in 2026 was appointed editor of the Dublin Review of Books.
